4x5 field camera - lens orientation within panel

..for ease of use, is it normal to fit the lenses so f/16 is at the 12 o'clock position? Also, is the securing collar that attaches the front group and shutter to the panel reversible? Thanks.

I orient the shutter so the speed and aperture can be set from the side. My camera is usually on a tripod at eye level and trying to read the scales from the top or bottom is a non starter.

Nicholas Lindan said:

I orient the shutter so the speed and aperture can be set from the side. My camera is usually on a tripod at eye level and trying to read the scales from the top or bottom is a non starter.

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Common practice for those of us who are vertically challenged.

one reason I like the circular lens boards for the Toho camera is the lens can be mounted in any position that is appropriate for the camera positon.

Neil Grant said:

Also, is the securing collar that attaches the front group and shutter to the panel reversible? Thanks.

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The retaining ring. You showed us a camera with a lens in a Copal shutter. The hole in the lens board that the shutter's rear tube goes through should be larger than the tube and the retaining ring should have a ridge that fits the hole and centers the shutter in it. If the ring mounted with ridge forward so that it engages the board hold the shutter tightly so that it can't rotate, that's the way it should be.

My 2x3 Graphics have metal lens boards that are so thin that sometimes the ridge doesn't engage the board. When this happens I reverse the ring (smooth side forwards) and carefully center the shutter in the hole. And then the shutter won't rotate when I adjust it.

If you have a truly square lens board, you already have 12, 3, 6 and 9 O'clock positions possible.

I prefer the 9 O'clock (facing camera front) myself.

It not only depends on personal preference, it depends on the shutter and camera. Different shutters have f-stops and shutter speeds in different places. The cable release (and other connections & levers) will be in different places. Where to set them is usually up to you -- but not always. For example, on my #3 shutter, I can only place it on the board in one position, so that it will fit on my camera AND allow the cable release to be connected AND set the f-stops. In any other position, I can't set both. So there can be a little bit of trial and error. There's no law against putting a lens on one way, and deciding on changing it's position later on.

As to the retaining ring, they normally can only be used one way because one side has 2 or 4 grooves for tightening the ring. If put on backwards you can't tighten it.

Dan Fromm said:

The retaining ring. You showed us a camera with a lens in a Copal shutter. The hole in the lens board that the shutter's rear tube goes through should be larger than the tube and the retaining ring should have a ridge that fits the hole and centers the shutter in it. If the ring mounted with ridge forward so that it engages the board hold the shutter tightly so that it can't rotate, that's the way it should be.

My 2x3 Graphics have metal lens boards that are so thin that sometimes the ridge doesn't engage the board. When this happens I reverse the ring (smooth side forwards) and carefully center the shutter in the hole. And then the shutter won't rotate when I adjust it.

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…the lens was originally on a sinar panel and had to be moved over to the smaller one for the field camera. The retaining ring was backwards (which seemed intuitively wrong) so i inverted it as you suggested. Thanks.

Neil Grant said:

..for ease of use, is it normal to fit the lenses so f/16 is at the 12 o'clock position? Also, is the securing collar that attaches the front group and shutter to the panel reversible? Thanks.

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Whatever works for you - there is no rule about it. With the camera in landscape mode, I mount the lens so that the shutter speed range is along the top, and the f-stops are along the bottom, and also conveniently places the cable release socket and the shutter-opener switch.